Thy Neighbor

What Kind of a Society Do We Want to Be?               

Over 100 million people worldwide are experiencing displacement due to war, climate crises, and internal factors such as homelessness and the numbers are growing. 

Thy Neighbor (formerly titled Beyond The Shadows), a feature length film by Eliza Hemenway, explores the essential question:

Help us Finish this Urgent Film!                                                       

Sonoma County is proud of its moniker "Sonoma Strong," in response to its legacy of coming together in the face of natural disasters. But what happens when the county emergency is one of the largest homeless encampments in Northern California? The community is divided, and as the encampment continues to grow, controversy sparks. Some neighbors bring care and compassion to those living in the emcampment, while others lash out in fear and anger at the rampant drug use, crime, mental illness and squalor that accompanies it. In the midst of this, County supervisors attempt to address the issue, but it quickly proves to be a no-win situation and things are not always as they seem. Thy Neighbor is an eyewitness account of the tensions that arise, actions taken, and the consequences that follow. It is a portrait of a community in crisis as it explores the question: what is our responsibility, as individuals and as a society, to care for the most vulnerable among us?

Filmmaking as Collective Care                                                           

Making an independent film is not a solo act, it requires community. Join us in this endeavor to create this film. Together, we can achieve this goal. 

The Real Cost of Making a Film

• The average Hollywood film costs 64 million dollars to produce.

• An average independent documentary film ranges from 400,000 to 2 million dollars. 

• We have invested over $200,000 in-kind labor and resources.

Partner with us to Finish this Film                                               

If 2,000 people donate $150 we can finish this film. That’s doable! 

Donate: All donations are appreciated and bring us closer to the goal of completing this urgent documentary. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation.

Multiply your Impact:  We are seeking community engagement. Partner with us to spread the word, and multiply the impact of this film:

• Make a pledge to secure 5, 10 or 100 more donors.

• Share with your network

  • Post on social media, engage directly with friends, family, and colleagues.

  • Include this project as a guest spot on your e-newsletter, blog, or podcast.

Status of the Project: Production is complete, and we are well into post-production, with over 60 minutes of the rough cut edited. Funds will cover direct expenses to complete post-production of the film including editing, sound mix, musical score, color grading, graphics, impact campaign, and distribution. Questions? Feel free to reach out for more  detailed information about the project by emailing elizahemenway@gmail.com.

All donations are tax deductible and administered through our fiscal sponsor, Media Alliance. 

Director's Statement

Driving alongside the Joe Rodota trail, I was struck by the sheer magnitude of the homeless encampment that had formed, seemingly overnight. It was a cold and rainy winter and Christmas was fast approaching. Miles of tents lined a main thoroughfare in my community of Santa Rosa, CA. Feeling compelled to act but unsure how, I attended a community volunteer meeting where people came together, each offering their unique gifts and resources to help our unsheltered neighbors in need.

Earlier that day, I had passed a street musician playing the song, The Little Drummer Boy, “Just me and my drum, pa rum pum pum pum,” the song was stuck in my head. As I sat in the meeting, listening to the community create a tapestry of collective care, I considered what I had to offer. Changing the lyrics in my mind, I thought, “I am a poor girl too … I have no gifts to bring, pa rum pum pum pum.” Then it struck me, “just me and my …  camera.” I had a gift to bring. As a seasoned documentary filmmaker, I could bring my camera to the trail and bear witness. 

I began to film as the encampment continued to grow, and as the community response became more urgent. Tensions rose. The community was in crisis, and there was no looking away. What had been hidden was now visible and we were all forced to respond. 

Politicians, stuck between compassionate solutions, government bureaucracy, and angry constituents, sought to remedy the situation, but it all proved to be elusive. In the end, the trail was swept, people scattered, and smaller encampments formed to be swept again, and again. It was a vicious and brutal cycle, and Thy Neighbor documented it all.

For more information about the filmmaker visit www.hemenewayproductions.com